Taking the Mystery Out of Research in Computing Information Systems: A New Approach to Teaching Research Paradigm Architecture.

Heslin, J. Alexander, Jr.

In senior-level undergraduate research courses in Computer Information Systems (CIS), students are required to read and assimilate a large volume of current research literature. One course objective is to demonstrate to the student that there are patterns or models or paradigms of research. A new approach in identifying research paradigms is proposed, one which is based on the use of the modeling tools of Systems Analysis and Design and a set of icons to graphically represent the research model components. One method for understanding the components and their relationships for a particular paradigm would be to apply a traditional functional decomposition method to the abstract model. Another method would be to apply the object-oriented approach. The necessary steps for using both approaches are explained, with five figures to depict the research model and icons. (Contains 10 references.) (Author/AEF)